2:1 After these things, when the anger of melekh Achashverosh had subsided, he remembered Vashti (Hebrew: ושתי, Persian: وَشتی ), and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2:2 Then said ha melekh's avadim that ministered to him, Let there be fair young betulot sought for the king:
2:3 And let ha melekh appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young betulot to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hege ha melekh's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given [them]:
2:4 And let the maiden which pleases ha melekh be malkah (מלכּה) instead of Vashti (Hebrew: ושתי, Persian: وَشتی ). And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
2:5 [Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain Yehudi, whose name [was] Mordechai (מרדּכי), Ben Yair, Ben Shimei, Ben Kish, a Benyami;
2:6 Who had been carried away from Yeshulayim with the golus (captivity) which had been carried away with Yekonyahu (יכניהוּ) melekh Yehudah, whom Nevukadnetztzar ha melekh Bavel had carried away.
2:7 And he brought up Hadassah (הדסּה), that [is], Ester, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordechai (מרדּכי), when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
2:8 So it came to pass, when ha melekh's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Ester was brought also to ha melekh's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of ha melekh's house: and he preferred her and her maids to the best [place] of the house of the women.
2:10 Ester had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordechai (מרדּכי) had charged her that she should not shew [it].
2:11 And Mordechai (מרדּכי) walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Ester did, and what should become of her.
2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to melekh Achashverosh , after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women;)
2:13 Then thus came [every] maiden to ha melekh; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to ha melekh's house.
2:14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, ha melekh's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in to ha melekh no more, except ha melekh delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
2:15 Now when the turn of Ester Bat Abihayil (אביהיל) dod (uncle) Mordechai (מרדּכי), who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to ha melekh, she required nothing but what Hegai ha melekh's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Ester obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
2:16 So Ester was taken to melekh Achashverosh into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign.
2:17 And ha melekh loved Ester above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the betulot; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her malkah (מלכּה) instead of Vashti (Hebrew: ושתי, Persian: وَشتی ).
2:18 Then ha melekh made a great feast to all his princes and his avadim, [even] Ester's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of ha melekh.
2:19 And when the betulot were gathered together the second time, then Mordechai (מרדּכי) sat in ha melekh's gate.
2:20 Ester had not [yet] shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordechai (מרדּכי) had charged her: for Ester did the commandment of Mordechai (מרדּכי), like as when she was brought up with him.
2:21 In those days, while Mordechai (מרדּכי) sat in ha melekh's gate, two of ha melekh's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on ha melekh Achashverosh .
2:22 And the thing was known to Mordechai (מרדּכי), who told [it] to Ester ha malkah (מלכּה); and Ester certified ha melekh [thereof] in Mordechai (מרדּכי)'s name.
2:23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the sefer divrei ha yamim before ha melekh.
